Mandates driving Steuben taxes upward

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2008 at 12:01 AMFeb 27, 2008 at 11:30 AM

Steuben County legislators are facing two choices — cut employees and services or raise taxes. That’s what area legislators are saying in the wake of concern on the county level the state budget will be reducing funding even further for mandates, such as Medicaid.

Rob Montana

Steuben County legislators are facing two choices — cut employees and services or raise taxes.

That’s what area legislators are saying in the wake of concern on the county level the state budget will be reducing funding even further for mandates, such as Medicaid.

“It’s up to our state legislative branch to eliminate the burdens from the backs of the counties,” said Leg. Richard Argentieri, D-Hornell. “If they’re going to give us a mandate, they ought to fund.
“To throw the burden on our backs is not fair and it’s not right,” he added.

“The county will have two options if the state budget is passed as is,” added Leg. Randy Weaver, D-Hornell. “One is raise taxes, two is raise taxes. Everything they’re changing the reimbursements for are mandated services.”

Leg. Tom Ryan, R-Canisteo, said the county is not only working with state Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira, and state Assemblyman James Bacalles, R-Corning, but also the New York State Association of Counties.

“We’re trying to get Spitzer to soften the blow,” he said. “We’re (the county) kind of stuck, they (the state) give us less money and we still have to do the same thing.
“We’ve got to get creative, but I don’t know what we’re going to do at the moment,” Ryan added. “There’s going to be a lot of conversation in the next few months.”

Aside from reducing non-mandated services, Argentieri said the county could review its programs to ensure no duplication of services.

“I think the biggest problem, however, comes from state mandates telling us we need to do certain things,” he said, “and then they forget about sending us the money to help us do it.”

Weaver said the county has few options for cost reductions. He said there could be cuts to employees or services offered, or less routine maintenance could be performed in the county’s buildings.

“We can look for extra sources of revenue, and the county is working that avenue pretty well,” Weaver said. “We have the new jail pods opening up, and that’s supposed to bring in out-of-county inmates and more money.
“We’re also recycling No. 1 plastics, and hopefully that can bring in more of a profit,” he added. “Otherwise, you can cut services or raise taxes, since sales tax and property tax are the only two avenues the county has for really generating revenue.”

Weaver also said the county aggressively seeks out grants to offset expenses, but those often include an upfront cost for Steuben, before getting paid back.

Leg. Brian Schu, R-Hornellsville, said the county will have to look at everything to combat the state mandates, in order to keep taxes from rising.

“The state is going to pass costs on to the counties, and all that does is increase the tax burden of the counties,” he said. “What can you do about it? Not much.
“We’re going to have to look at every area if this is going to lead to a substantial increase in taxes,” Schu added. “I don’t know what areas would be worth looking at right now.”

It’s not just the state government that’s negative impacting the county, Ryan said, the federal government also is causing problems.

“Even on the federal end of it, there’s going to be some cost shifts,” he said, “so it’s kind of a double whammy.”

Another problem for the county, Weaver said, is the fact its budget has been in place for four months before the state passes its budget, so the financial projections may not line up.

“You go by the historic data, and then they change the rules on you,” he said.

Argentieri said it’s time for action from state representatives — not just talk.

“They make a lot of speeches and noise; why don’t they do something?” he said. “I’d rather have them spend time working out a solution that attacking each other.
“I’m tired of the bickering and criticizing; they’re like a bunch of kids,” Argentieri added. “I wish they’d get down to business for the citizens they’re supposed to represent.”